Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Texas: A northern spread of endemic areas

Leishmaniasis, an infection caused by various species of Leishmania protozoa, is usually transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies. The clinical presentations are extremely diverse and dependent on a variety of host and parasitic factors. Although rare in the United States, cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in south-central Texas. At this time, no autochthonous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis are known to have been reported in north Texas. We report 9 autochthonous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis obtained in residents of north Texas. None of these patients had any travel history to areas known to be endemic for Leishmania.